Washing machine



April 10, 1928.,

H. C. HIRSCHY WASHING MACHINE Filed Sent. 15, 1924 1' /v VE/V TOR ATTORNEY:

I Fatented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,665,262 PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN G. HIRSGHY, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO THE HIRSGHY COM- PANY, F DULUTH, MINNESOTA,

A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed September 15, 1924. Serial No. 737,832.

My invention relates to clothes washing machines and particularly to the agitating means therefor, and the object of the inventlon is to provide an agitator which will reduce Wear on the clothes, lessen strain on the machine and eliminate danger of overload.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description. I

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying part of this specification Figure 1 is a sectional View of a tub and agitator embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the agitator; Figure 3 is a sectional view online 3-3 of drawings forming Figure '1 Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the agitating paddles;

Figure 5 isan enlarged detail viewof the upper end of one of the paddles showing the means provided for securing it mule oscillating device, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5. 7

In the drawing, 2 represents a washing machine tub, preferably of sheet metal, though any other suitable material may be used. The tubis preferably of the form shown in Figure 1, with an upper portion 3 having inwardly projecting upper edges overhanging the interior of the tub and forming an opening 4, which when the tub is in use is closed by a suitable cover, not shown. Y

Within the tub is an upri ht standard 5 secured to the bottom by suita 1e means, such as a flange 6 and lock nut 7. The upper end of this standard has a suitable stuffing box 8 and a' drive shaft 9 projects up through the standard in the stufling box and has an upper end 10, rectangular in cross section, and at.

the base of which preferably is. a circular flange 11. It will be understood that the dr1v1ng shaft may be brought down through the top of the tub if preferred. I merely illustrate one application herein, as both' methods of driving are common m power washing machines.

Enclosing the drive shaft I provide a. cone 12 that is seated at its lower end on the bottom, of the tub and has a suitablelocking The cone forms the subject matterof United States Patents Nos. 1,336,781 and 1,349,338,

and I make no claim broadly therefor to the same herein.

A block 14 has a socket 15 to receive the upper end of the drive shaft, a shoulder 16v being formed in the Walls of said socket to rest upon the flange 11 and sup-portthe block for oscillation with the drive-shaft, it being understood that this shaft has a rocking reciprocatory movement to impart the desired stroke to the agitator. 17 represents a disc, preferably of metal, and 18 is a dome thereon overhanging the central opening 19 in the disc 17. A box 20 is centrally mounted on the dome and depends therefrom with arallel side walls adapted to fit snugly agalnst the correspondingly shaped walls of the block 14, said box being free, however, to

' point of its vertical movement. When, however, there is a considerable body of clothes in the tub, then the agitator will be raised, the box 20 sliding on the block 14 tothe limit of its upward movement.

The block 14 has a rod 21 secured therein and projecting up through the Icon 20 and PIOVlClGd' at its upper end with a lifting knob 22 by means of which the agitator may be conveniently handled to place in its working position in the tub or removed there-' from. The box 20 is free to slide vertically on this rod during the rise and fall of the agitator to accommodate itself to the volume of clothes. Asindicated, however, the walls of the box at all times will be in contact driving shaft by grasping the knob 22 and pulling upwardly thereon.

A plurality of radial slots 23, preferably 4 in number and equally spaced, are provided in the peripheral edge of the disc 17;

asshown in Figure 3. The opposed parallel edges of these slots are adapted to enter slots or grooves 24 provided on. each side of the heads 25 of a plurality of agitators or The entire device may, how- 1 blades 26 as particularly shown in Figure 3, therebyto secure the agitators to the disc. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, each agitator is also provided at one endwith a transverse slot or groove 28 which connect the slots 24 as shown. Thus, when the 1 agitators are positioned upon the disc as shown in Figures 1 and 2 the inner edge 29 of the slots 23 will be concealed so as to prevent the clothes from coming in contact therewith. The

outer ends of the slots 24 of each agitator arepreferably closed, or stop short of the end thereof, so as to cover and conceal the outer corners 31 of each slot 23 as shown in Figure 2. A depression 32 is also terminally provided in each slot 24 to receive the head 27 of the disc when the paddle is mounted therein as shown on the left hand chine, the operating mechanism and danger of tearing or damaging the garments through pressure of the agitator thereon. :The blades will bend as shown in Figure 3 and relieve the clothes of -undue strain or pressure and if the machine is overloaded with too many clothes the resistance of the clothes will bend the blades and cause the agitator to rise in the tub and ride upon the clothes, and finally pass out of driving con nection with the shaft 9 and become stationary, resuming its operation when the surtemporarily inoperative.

'to the bending of the blades by the clothes extent of damaging the machine or gar-' ments.

plus or overload has been removed.

-The degree of flexibility or resiliency of the yielding blades can be determined and the agitator made to perform its proper functions with a usual load of clothes rising and falling with the garments and maintaining a proper degree of agitation but if too many clothes are placed in the tub so that the load is too great for the agitator, it will rise and relieve itself and become This will be due and the raising of the disc and its disengage- ,ment at a-certain point from the driving mechanlsrn. V

It will be impossible, therefore, for a careless or inexperienced person to overload the machine with clothes and operate it to the The blades being resilient will not wear the clothes as a rigid blade might and will present broad contacting surfaces to the clothes,'and insure the desired agitation to thoroughly cleanse the garments, and the bending of the blades at the end of the stroke will relieve all strain on the garments and the motor.

I have shown the agitator in the top of the tub with depending blades or paddles, but it may be inverted if preferred with the blades projecting upwardly into contact with the clothes and exerting a yielding pressure thereon, the function of the blades in this inverted position being the same as shown in the drawings.

My invention can be adapted for Washing any desired quantity of clothes dependent upon the size of the tub and the strength of the power plant.

I claim as my invention:

1. A washing machine agitator comprising a disc having a plurality of radial slots, and blades having grooves to receive the edges of said slots at the sides and inner ends thereof, the side grooves of said blades extending only partially across the same and forming shoulders or Stops against whlch said disc at the outer edges of said slots is seated and concealed.

2. A washing machine agitator comprising a disc having a plurality of radial slots and a. peripheral bead and blades having grooves to receive the edges of said slots, and said blades having recesses therein to receive said bead when the blades are pressed in to their seats in said slots and held by said head against accidental displacement.

3. A washing machine agitator comprlsing a reciprocating member having a plurality of radial guides, blades having grooves to receive said guides at the edges thereof, the grboves of said blades extending only partially across the same and forming shoulders or stops against which said member at the outer edges of said guides is seated.

4. A washing machine agitator comprising'a reciprocating member having a plurality of radial guides formed thereon and blades of resilient material having grooves to receive said guides, said grooves extending only partially across said blades and forming shoulders or stops against whlch said member is seated.

5. A washing machineagitator compr sing a member having a pluralityof radial guides and a peripheral bead, and blades having grooves to receive said guides, sa d blades having recesses therein to receive sa d bead when the blades are pressed'into their seats in said guides and held by said head against accidental displacement.

, In witness whereof, I have hereunt set my hand this 10th day of September, 1924.-

HERMAN C. HIRSCHY. 

